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Apollo 8 Recovery to be Theme of 2019 USS Yorktown Crew Reunion

Chris Hauff Oct 09, 2019

During the 71^st Yorktown Association’s crew reunion Oct. 16-19, Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum visitors will have an opportunity to meet several USS Yorktown crew members who were aboard the historic aircraft carrier when it recovered the Apollo 8.

The reunion will feature six World War II veterans, three of whom were members of Air Group 88 aboard the Yorktown in Aug. 1945.  The group was in the midst of an air patrol on Aug. 15, 1945, when a cease-fire was issued that signaled the unofficial end to the war.  While flying back to the Yorktown, Air Group 88 was attacked by 15 to 20 Japanese planes.  Four of the Yorktown’s pilots were killed during this last aerial attack of the war.  The battle is the topic of author and popular historian of the Pacific War John Wukovits’ new book, Dogfight Over Tokyo.  Wukovits will be aboard the USS Yorktown on Saturday, Oct. 19, and will participate in the veteran meet and greet from 9 a.m. to noon.  Copies of his book will be available for purchase.

Yorktown Association Reunion events open to the public include:

• “Yorktown Stories: A family Legacy” – Thursday, Oct. 17 at 2 p.m.

Thursday afternoon aboard the USS Yorktown in the Smokey Stover Theater, Yorktown Association will host a discussion about family relationships and the experiences of crew members while on the aircraft carrier.

 

• Memorial Service – Friday, Oct. 18 at 9 a.m.

Friday morning a memorial service will be held for all former USS Yorktown shipmates and NASA team members who have died in the past year.  The service will be held aboard the USS Yorktown and will include a tolling of a bell and traditional gun salute.

 

• Meet and Greet – Saturday, Oct. 19 – 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Saturday morning, the Yorktown Association will host a meet and greet session for museum visitors.  Crewmembers participating will represent all significant U.S. conflicts that the aircraft carrier served in.  Several World War II veterans who were members of Air Group 88 will sign autographs alongside author John Wukovits who has written a book about Air Group 88 and how four men in their air group were killed during the last aerial battle of World War II, after the cease-fire was ordered.

 

• Splashdown: Recovery of Apollo 8 – Saturday, Oct 19 – 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Meet crew members of the USS Yorktown who were aboard the aircraft carrier in December 1968 and helped recover the Apollo 8 space capsule and crew after it orbited the moon and returned to Earth.  College of Charleston’s NASA Space Grant Consortium will provide hands-on activities for children including an exhibit that features rare moon rocks.  A film Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum produced with Apollo 8 crewmember Jim Lovell will play in the museum’s Smokey Stover Theater.

All Yorktown Association Reunion events are included in the regular price of admission.  Parking is $5. We hope you will be able to join us for these events!